April 23 rd 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Register Undergraduate Research - MSU Denver
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th
10 Annual
Undergraduate Research
Conference: AScholarly
Symposium of
Works &
Creative Projects
Student Impact &
Innovation Showcase
rd
April 23 Online
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Register: https://bit.ly/3vMPCzI
CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE
9:00 a.m. Welcome Remarks
9:30 a.m. Conference Session I
Oral session (9:30-10:30)
Poster session (9:45-10:45)
10:45 a.m. Conference Session II
Oral session (10:45-11:45)
Poster session (11:00-12:00)
11:45 a.m. Lunch Break
12:45 p.m. Keynote: Ronald Rael: Rasquachando!
1:45 p.m. Networking
2:15 p.m. Conference Session III
Poster session (2:15-3:15)
Oral session (2:30-3:30)
3:30 p.m. Conference Session IV
Poster session (3:30-4:30)
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
3 WELCOME
6 KEYNOTE
7 ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
9 CONGRATULATIONS &
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
11 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
45 STUDENT IMPACT & INNOVATION
ABSTRACTS
2
WELCOME FROM THE
DIRECTOR
This has been a year in which we have had to find
our resilience, adapt to a significant disruption to
our daily lives, and become innovative in the way
we teach, learn, and interact. The fact that we are
celebrating over 100 projects at our online
conference this year, is a testament to the resilience
and innovation of our Roadrunner community.
When I started at MSU Denver in July, I thought being remote would make it difficult to form
connections. However, MSU Denver has cultivated a community that transcends the computer
screens of remote learning. It is with that same sense of community I hope we can come
together to celebrate the achievements of our students and their mentors at this year’s virtual
conference. This year our conference brings more of our community together by including
Student Impact & Innovation Showcase and Modern Languages. I hope you will attend a
webinar-style oral session, have a conversation with a poster presenter in their virtual room, stop
in one of the virtual lounges for informal conversation, and don’t forget to see our keynote
speaker on the main stage. Oral session and mainstage recordings are available on the
conference platform for 30 days after the conference.
Thank you to all the faculty and staff who mentored students in undergraduate research and
creative scholarship. A special thank you to all the students who did the work and were ready to
share their work on a new platform. On behalf of myself and the conference planning
committee, welcome!
Kristy L. Duran, PhD
Faculty Director of Undergraduate Research
Professor of Biology
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Conference Planning Committee:
Kira Castle Alyssa Marks Elizabeth Parmelee
Jill Lange Lori McKinney Mandi Schaeffer Fry
3
WELCOME FROM THE
PROVOST
th
This year marks the 10 anniversary of the Undergraduate
Research Conference at Metropolitan State University of
Denver. In my estimation, there is something truly exciting
about making tangible scholarly contributions invoked by a
desire to answer questions stimulated by your experiences or
the experiences of others. These questions often sit at the
intersection of multiple disciplines that afford you the
opportunity to develop academically and professionally as you
create and discover knowledge. I encourage this year’s
participants to embrace the research arena with boldness,
care, and humility. And, never underestimate your potential to
contribute to the world’s social and scientific consciousness.
You will find that knowledge is never settled and there is a need to continuously interrogate and
sometimes trouble existing intellectual waters to advance our common humanity that is
continually evolving. This is the bedrock for research. For some, your participation in this
conference will shape your scholarly identity for years to come. I encourage you to be altruistic
with your findings and publish it for the world to see. As I think about today’s undergraduate
research conference, I am reminded of the words of two indigenous intellectuals, Gabriela Ramos
and Yanna Yannakakis, who offered that writing provides the most accessible evidence of
intellectual work. I must warn you, however, that research and writing can become addictive, an
addition that helps us understand the past and present while lighting the way to the future.
Continue to embrace your passion for ideas and the passion to know.
I look forward to joining you and becoming smarter from your research.
I want to thank faculty and staff who continue to nurture undergraduate research at MSU Denver
and for allowing us to carve out a significant imprint of being Roadrunner ‘Researchers On the
Move’.
To this end, I say welcome to all.
Alfred Tatum, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Metropolitan State University of Denver
4WELCOME FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Each spring at Metropolitan State University of Denver we
have the opportunity to showcase the remarkable
academic and creative achievements of our Roadrunner
students through two events, the Undergraduate
Research Conference: A Symposium of Scholarly Works &
Creative Project and the Student Impact & Innovation
Showcase. These events never cease to amaze me and
serves as a great reminder of the brilliance and value our
students bring to MSU Denver, their families, and their
communities.
Throughout your time at MSU Denver you have continued to embody the Roadrunner spirit
through your academic talent, personal resilience, and professional ability, accomplishments that
have been further accentuated by your ongoing commitment to your scholarship amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic. You have faced immense personal, academic, and professional challenges
over the last year, and your participation in today’s conference reaffirms not only your excellence,
but your perseverance as well.
The diversity of projects being presented is a testament to the talents and abilities of our students
and their faculty mentors in addition to the human capacity to explore new ideas, invent new ways
of doing things, challenge assumptions, and create new narratives. In the face of this pandemic,
every one of you, your faculty, and your friends and families, has a role to play in reimagining what
the world can look like in the future and we are proud that you will carry with you the values of
community, diversity, excellence, and respect as you continue to challenge yourself with research
projects and creative endeavors that will help us address, as a society, the complex problems and
issues that confront us.
We are honored to be part of your path and to have you share with us the discoveries of your
research and the insights of your creative endeavors! Thank you for the time and energy you have
dedicated to these projects, for adapting to a changing world, and for providing me the privilege of
being a small part of this day. By participating in the Undergraduate Research Conference: A
Symposium of Scholarly Works & Creative Project and the Student Impact & Innovation Showcase
despite this year’s challenges, you are proving the theory that Roadrunners are always seeking to
reimagine what is possible!
Janine A. Davidson, PhD
President
Metropolitan State University of Denver
5KEYNOTE
Ronald Rael
Ronald Rael is an applied architectural researcher,
author, design entrepreneur, and thought leader in
the fields of additive manufacturing, borderwall
studies, and earthen architecture. His research
interests connect indigenous and traditional
material practices to contemporary technologies
and issues. He often teaches graduate design thesis
and undergraduate courses on Design & Activism.
Ronald Rael is an applied architectural researcher, author, design entrepreneur, and thought
leader in the fields of additive manufacturing, borderwall studies, and earthen architecture. His
research interests connect indigenous and traditional material practices to contemporary
technologies and issues. He often teaches graduate design thesis and undergraduate courses
on Design & Activism.
As a professor of architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, he is the Eva Li Memorial
Chair in Architecture, Director of the Masters of Architecture program, and Director of the
printFARM Laboratory (print Facility for Architecture, Research and Materials). He holds a joint
appointment in the Department of Architecture, in the College of Environmental Design, and
the Department of Art Practice and is both a Bakar and Hellman Fellow.
The London Design Museum awarded his creative practice, Rael San Fratello, (with architect
Virginia San Fratello), the Beazley Award in 2021 for the design of the year, one of the most
prestigious awards in design internationally. In 2014 his practice was named an Emerging Voice
by The Architectural League of New York—one of the most coveted awards in North American
architecture. In 2016 Rael San Fratello was also awarded the Digital Practice Award of
Excellence by the The Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA).
Rael is the author of Borderwall as Architecture: A Manifesto for the U.S.-Mexico
Boundary (University of California Press 2017), an illustrated biography and protest of the wall
dividing the U.S. from Mexico featured in a recent TED talk by Rael, and Earth
Architecture (Princeton Architectural Press, 2008), a history of building with earth in the
modern era to exemplify new, creative uses of the oldest building material on the planet.
His work can be seen in several documentary films produced by The Museum of Modern Art
for his work on the U.S.-Mexico border and for additive manufacturing, by KQED in an emmy
winning documentary film about the work of his creative practice, by The New Yorker, and for
his humanitarian initiatives with the international aid organization Alight (formerly the
American Refugee Committee).
6ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & CREATIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship Program promotes, supports, and celebrates MSU
Denver faculty and student engagement in undergraduate research activities. These undergraduate
research experiences enhance students’ preparedness and competitiveness for future employment and
the pursuit of advanced degrees.
Kristy L Duran, PhD Mandi Schaeffer Fry, PhD
Faculty Director of Undergraduate Research Faculty Associate of Undergraduate Research
SERVICE LEARNING & COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH
Service learning students participate in regularly scheduled academic classes that have a community experience
component. Community experiences can vary quite widely depending on the topic of the course, the level of
training students have attained, and the requests of the community organizations or clients. Students may
interact with populations like those with whom their profession interacts or they might work on applied
projects, such as marketing or public relations proposals, for specific clients. Community-based research
students conduct research with their faculty mentors in diverse community settings, from taking water samples
in Bear Creek to surveying clients at a local food resource agency. Students have the opportunity to present
their work not only to their community partners, but also to the university community via the Student Impact
and Innovation Showcase and the Undergraduate Research Conference.
PUKSTA SCHOLARS
The Puksta Foundation provides funding, mentorship, and experiential community engagement for students at five
universities in Colorado, including MSU Denver. Each year, a new cohort of scholars who exhibit a strong commitment to
service and civic responsibility are selected to join the Puksta Scholar Program. Scholars participate in a rigorous and
rewarding multi-year program designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary to
become catalysts for lasting positive change in the community.
EARN AND LEARN
Internships are an imperative part of our students' experience; but not all internships are paid. Many of our students work,
come from lower-income backgrounds and/or are supporting families, so being able to take time off for hands-on learning
is just not feasible. MSU Denver's Earn and Learn Program levels the playing field by providing a modest stipend to students
who take unpaid internships.
7THE ROWDY SCHOLAR: A JOURNAL OF
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & CREATIVE WORKS
The Rowdy Scholar: A Journal of Undergraduate Research & Creative Works is an online,
open-access multi-disciplinary scholarly research journal publishing original research and
creative works, including but not limited to works prepared for classes, honors theses, or
independent studies by undergraduate students at MSU Denver.
In Fall 2020, we published the second edition of The Rowdy Scholar, and articles are
currently being finalized for the third edition! The second edition published five papers,
encompassing work from eight MSU Denver undergraduate authors!
What's in a Name? Hip Hop Graffiti and Principles of Authorship
Student Authors: Melissa Camp and Mateo Candelaria
Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth Kleinfeld
The American Foreign Policy Shift During the Carter / Reagan Era
Student Author: Jose Faustino Flores
Faculty Mentors: Sheila Rucki and Elsa Dias
Preliminary Investigation into the Function of tfap2a Variants in Zebrafish
Student Authors: Thanh Bao Dan Nguyen and Jessica Patrick
Faculty Mentor: Vida Senkus Melvin
Electrochemical DNA Biosensors for Detecting Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Student Authors: Dylan Poch and Tyler Sodia
Faculty Mentors: Andrew Bonham and Jenn Honda
Fracking on Federal Land: An Overview of the Costs and Benefits of Fracking
Student Author: Siet Wright
Faculty Mentor: Elizabeth McVicker
nd rd
We’d like to thank the following faculty, who served as editorial board members for the 2 and/or 3 editions:
• Pamela Ansburg • Nhu Nguyen • Siva Santhanam
• Shelby Balik (senior • Sanaa Riaz • Mandi Schaeffer Fry
editor for third • John Rief (senior editor for third
edition) • Jason Janke edition)
• Philip Bernhardt • Shinyong (Shawn) • Sarah Schliemann
• Erin Bissell Jung • Erin Seedorf
• Steve Geinitz • Elizabeth Kleinfeld • Dorothy Shapland
• Deborah Horan (senior editor for • Summer Trentin
• Christina Peters second edition) • Kimberly VanHoosier-
Huber • Kimberly Klimek Carey
• Sara Jackson • Anahi Russo Garrido • Sheryl Zajdowicz (senior
• Kristy Lyons • Rich Sandoval editor for second
• Vida Melvin edition) 82020-2021 Undergraduate Mini-Grant
Recipients
The Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship Program offers
mini-grants of up to $500 to support student research, scholarly works,
CONGRATULATIONS
and creative works. Congratulations to this year’s awardees!
FALL 2020 SPRING 2021
• ShayLee Bunkers • Marissa Allen
• Anniston Craddock • Christopher Chamblee
• Cassie Gibbs • Zane DeLuccie
• Devyn Gussenbauer • Rachel Nussbaum
• Zahava Heydel • Dylan J Poch
• Kaily Meek • Nathanial Roybal &
• Kayla Ritchie Jaquelin Valenzuela
• Jennifer Robertson • Andrew Smith
Undergraduate Mini-Grant Reviewers
A special thank you to the following faculty and staff members who
helped to review mini-grant applications this year!
• Pamela Ansburg • Jackson Lamb
• Philip Bernhardt • Sandra Lane
• Erin Bissell • Kristen Lyons
• Rebecca Canges • Bridget Murphy-Kelsey
• Bill Carnes • Jeffrey Parker
• Megan Filbin • Emily Ragan
• Megan Hughes • Siva priya Santhanam
• Sara Jackson • Mandi Schaeffer Fry
• Kim Klimek • Nona Shipman
A special thank you to Jill Lange for coordinating the mini-
grant fund allocation.
9We would like to thank the following people and organizations for
th
their contributions to the 10 Annual Undergraduate Research
Conference:
• Conference program and abstract coordination: Kristy L. Duran, Mandi
Schaeffer Fry, and Evan Haut
THANK YOU!
• Program scheduling: Lori McKinney, Kira Castle and Alyssa Marks
• Virtual conference session set-up: Kristy L. Duran, Lori McKinney, and
Mandi Schaeffer Fry
• Sarah Harman, Petra Schumann, and Ned Hoewisch for the use CAVEA
and the recording of two of our student presentations
• Video editing: John Arnold and Amanda Schwengel
• Session moderators: Pamela Ansburg, Bevon Beezle, Andrew Bonham,
Kira Castle, Sonny Dhoot, Bethany Fleck Christina Foust, Mark Isenburg,
Sandra Lane, Jill Lange, Alyssa Marks, Leah McFail, Lori McKinney, Siva
Priya Santhanam, and Mandi Schaeffer Fry
We would also like to thank the following people for their ongoing
support for the Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship
Program:
• Elizabeth Parmelee, Provost Tatum, and President Davidson
• Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship Advisory Council
• Faculty mentors, who provide the opportunities for undergraduate
research
10UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH CONFERENCE
ABSTRACTS
11Design of electrochemical biosensors for detecting P.69 pertactin associated
with B. pertussis
Allen, Marissa – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Bonham, Andrew
Major/Research Area: Biology (BIO)/Biochemistry (BCHM)
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient
Poster Session 4 (3:30-4:30pm), Poster #3
Whooping cough caused by Bordetella pertussis can cause serious and prolonged health affects in people of all
ages but is especially deadly in infants. Early treatment can significantly reduce the duration of illness in the
patient and lead to a milder case of illness overall. Quick and accurate diagnosis is thus essential in treating the
infection. Current diagnostic procedures need a relatively large patient sample and have an extended wait period
for testing results. As an alternative, we are developing an aptamer-based electrochemical biosensor for the rapid
detection of B. pertussis. To do so, our biosensor will target P.69 pertactin, a well-known adhesion factor present
on the outside of B. pertussis. A biosensor that detects this protein can therefore be used to diagnose a B. pertussis
infection reliably and quickly. Thus far, we have obtained purified P.69 pertactin and biotinylated the protein:
incorporating a covalently attached biotin molecule through reaction with primary amino groups present on P.69
pertactin. Biotinylation results were confirmed, and biotin incorporation was measured via HABA Assay.
Calculations showed that an average of 42 biotin molecules were able to bind to each P.69 pertactin protein.
Currently we are continuing our development of an electrochemical biosensor through SELEX, the systematic
evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. SELEX is a process by which unique DNA sequences called
aptamers are introduced to target molecules and screened for selective binding to the target, in our case P.69
pertactin. Ultimately, we plan to identify successful binding of an aptamer to P.69 pertactin, which will be
characterized by next-generation sequencing. We will then utilize that sequence to construct an electrochemical,
DNA aptamer-based biosensor specific to P.69 pertactin.
Visible Water Features of Pompeii
Bacca, Janaé – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Dyhr, Benjamin
Additional Mentors: Summer Trentin
Major/Research Area: Mathematics (MTH)
Oral Session 1 (9:30-10:30am), Room 2
A prominent symbol which represents social status and wealth for the people of Pompeii is the presence of a
water feature in their households. We are interested in understanding the importance of not only having a water
feature but having a water feature visible to the public as a means of displaying the household’s wealth or social
status. We hypothesize that there is a correlation between the presence of a water feature and the visibility of said
water feature from the street. Using a generalized linear model, we will determine what physical attributes of
individual households in Pompeii are explanatory for the variations of the presence of a visible water feature.
12Predicting NCAA Men's Basketball Point Spread
Barlow, Cody – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Dyhr, Ben
Major/Research Area: Mathematics (MTH)/Statistical Science
Additional Tags: Senior Statistics Project
Oral Session 1 (9:30-10:30am), Room 2
The point spread of an NCAA basketball game is the expected point differential between Home and Away teams. In
this report a model is developed to accurately predict the point spread for NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball
games. We use predictor variables measured from games played during the 2020-2021 season prior to 2-22-21 to
predict point spreads for games played during the last two weeks of the regular season. We build a general linear
regression model and the use model validation methods to test the model. We conclude by comparing our
predictions to spreads advertised on popular sportsbooks.
Cultural Hydridity as Evidenced by Style: An Examinataion of Pre-Columbian
Ceramics from West Mexico and Ecuador
Barofsky, Sydney – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Mollenhauer, Jillian
Major/Research Area: Art History, Theory and Criticism
Oral Session 2 (10:45-11:45am), Room 2
Ceramics from Pre-Columbian cultures in Ecuador and West Mexico provide visual evidence of influential
connection between the two areas. Sample sets of ceramics from these regions demonstrate how this contact
from travel by sea produces an impact on styles of artistic rendering. This is evidenced by characteristics of style
outlined in my sample set. In addition, archaeological data supports the idea that Pre-Columbian West Mexican
ceramics exhibit locally modified traits from coastal contact with Ecuadorian traders. This calls to mind theory of
hybridity, where interaction with different groups of people produces a new and hybrid culture.
Keywords: localize, figurine, ceramic vessel, coastal contact, hybridity, seafaring
MSU Denver Rural Students and Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Bauer, Bionca – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentors: Emily Matuszewicz, Tai Hong Kim
Major/Research Area: Health Care Management (HCM)
Poster Session 1 (9:30-10:30am), Poster #1
Food insecurity is the lack of access to healthy and nutritional food necessary to sustain a healthy lifestyle. Many
vulnerable populations are impacted by food insecurity, but one of the most common vulnerable populations and
least talked about are young adults who live in rural areas. Some of these young adults are likely to also be college
13students. Metropolitan State University of Denver, while located in an urban area, has many students who
commute there due to the cheaper tuition compared to the overall rise in educational costs. It is likely that MSU
Denver has a rural student population with higher nutritional needs. There is a gap in literature about rural-
residing college students impacted by food insecurity, but consistent trends of high young adult food insecurity
and rural barriers might indicate that the impacts are even heavier on young adult college students in rural areas.
Young adult college students have heavy financial burdens while also receiving less familial financial support; they
are also less likely to qualify for federal resources such as SNAP (Patton-López Et al., 2014). Rural Coloradans are
more likely to have a higher rate of food insecurity than other areas. COVID exacerbates this disproportionate
impact by increasing unemployment rates and reducing food access with stay-at-home orders. Young adult college
students are at an increased risk of food insecurity if they’ve lost their job and displaced from a living arrangement
due to COVID-19, which puts them at an increased risk for physical and mental health disorders. Rural-residing
college students still have needs and, thus, it is valuable to determine if MSU Denver has been or is able to address
this specific population.
Ecological Impacts of Hiking and Other Outdoor Recreation
Braun, Dylan – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Cooley, Christopher
Major/Research Area: Biology (BIO)/Environmental Science (ENV)
Poster Session 4 (3:30-4:30pm), Poster #5
The year 2020 brought about many changes to our daily lives. With most forms of recreation and relaxation shut
down, people took to outdoor recreation in record numbers. A study done using data from the popular hiking app
ALL TRAILS reported a 171% increase in the number of hikes logged in 2020 over the previous year. The number of
hikers had increased by 134% with hikes per hiker going up over 50%. The impact of the unprecedented crowds on
the trails and the environment is not yet known and require further study. Using secondary research, this
presentation will explore already collected data to try to answer what some of these impacts may be. The greater
the traffic a trail sees, the wider a trail will become. The widening of a trail can lead to a few different outcomes.
There is a larger area that is susceptible to erosion from weather and from wear. It can also have a big impact on
the plant life adjacent to that trail. Ecosystems in higher elevations are fragile and easily disturbed if trampled.
Increased noise and man-made sounds can alter the behavior of animals. Foragers may change their patterns to
avoid noisy areas and this may also change the patterns of the predators that hunt them. Increased noise and
man-made noises increase the stress levels of animals in the area and, depending on the type of recreation, can be
worse than the stress brought on by a predator. Habitats can be ruined by increased traffic as well. People do not
always live by the motto pack it in, pack it out. With the increase in people, comes the increase in trash and refuse
left behind. As stated before, there will have to be further study on the ecological impacts from the outdoor
recreation in 2020, but there are some negative impacts that can be expected.
14Decline of Sharks Negatively Impacts Marine Ecosystems: A Review of Trophic
Cascades with Emphasis on Behavior
Brown, Timothy – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Cooley, Christopher
Major/Research Area: Biology (BIO)
Oral Session 3 (2:30-3:30pm), Room 3
This is a review of trophic cascades initiated by the decline of carnivorous sharks in marine ecosystems. Trophic
cascade refers to the top-down effects that occur from removal of an apex predator. It refers to an interaction
between predator and prey, direct or through risk behavior, that affects multiple trophic levels of the food web.
Examples of marine trophic cascades show shark decline initiates mesopredator release which initiates increased
consumption of prey species on lower tropic levels. Controversy regarding shark roles in trophic cascades is likely
because of the differences between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Specifically, marine habitat is open to
species migration and the species richness, diversity, and trophic radiation are higher in the marine habitats.
These differences lead to a heavier emphasis on behavior-mediated trophic cascade (BMTC). Evidence of BMTC
has been found in several shark species. Large roving sharks alter foraging behavior in large sea grazers, which in
turn, affects seagrass biomass and habitat structure. Enhanced seagrass recruitment alters predator-prey
relationships at lower trophic levels. Also, BMTC triggers a change in diet in coral reef mesopredators, which leads
to altered community structure. These changes may release coral-eating organisms and may relate to rapid reef
collapse. Current research suggests that the shark initiated trophic cascade is highly relevant and BMTC
significantly alters local habitat structure and community assemblages. Globally, many species of sharks have
experienced significant population decline caused by overexploitation. An unfavorable and incorrect view of
sharks may lead to hesitancy or fear rather than effective management of these keystone species. This review
highlights the need for enhanced shark research and increased conservation.
Parents’ Perceptions regarding Two Intervention Services for Children on the
Autism Spectrum
Bunkers, ShayLee – Corresponding Author
Student Co-Author(s): Haydee Cardoza
Faculty Mentor: Santhanam, Siva priya
Major/Research Area: Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient; Community-Based Project
Poster Session 2 (11:00am-12:00pm), Poster #3
School-age children on the autism spectrum and their parents typically receive speech and language therapy and
behavior therapy in schools and private clinics. We know very little about collaborations between these two
service providers and what parents perceive regarding the services they receive. Therefore, the current study aims
at understanding the experiences, and strengths and challenges of speech-language therapy and behavioral
therapy as perceived by parents of children on the autism spectrum. This study is participatory in nature – a parent
of a school-age child on the autism spectrum is involved in our research team in the planning, data collection, and
data analyses phases. We are currently collecting data for the study by conducting an semi-structured interview
with parents (mother or father of a school-age child on the autism spectrum). Six English-speaking mothers and
one Spanish-speaking mother have participated in the study so far. We will be presenting preliminary results of the
15study. The results of this study will provide important information about ways to leverage strengths of individual
approaches while planning intervention that supports communication in children on the autism spectrum. The
study will also help us understand how we can increase parental involvement in intervention, and facilitate
collaboration between speech-language therapists and behavioral therapists.
iOS Smartphone Applications for Geology
Corresponding Author: Cabrera, Julio
Faculty Mentor: Kackstaetter, Uwe
Major/Research Area: Geology
Poster Session 4 (3:30-4:30pm), Poster #6
Modern technology continues to advance in many ways, and many different fields are taking advantage of this
advancement. Specifically, the smartphone, these devices continue to improve with every new model which makes
them an ideal tool to use in the geosciences. Since the majority of students own a smartphone this would make it a
perfect tool for geological field work. When in the field one of the most important tools a geologist has is their
Brunton but, what if this could change and instead using a smartphone to take the Bruntons place in the field. It's
assumed that your classic Brunton is the best piece of equipment you can have to measure strikes and dips of
strata most accurately but what if this was not the case and a smartphone could produce very similar results and
maybe better in some situations.
Teletherapy for School-Age Children- A Spanish Resource
Cardoza, Haydee – Corresponding Author
Student Co-Author(s): Estefany Perez
Faculty Mentor: Santhanam, Siva priya
Major/Research Area: Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
Additional Tags: Community-Based Project
Oral Session 1 (9:30-10:30am), Room 4
The purpose of our project is to inform Spanish-speaking parents of the benefits of teletherapy and to resolve any
misconceptions associated with teletherapy. We are also interested in demonstrating communication activities
that can be used during a teletherapy session to promote expressive and receptive language in school-age children
on the autism spectrum.
As part of this project, we will be developing a brochure that addresses common misconceptions associated with
teletherapy. The brochure will be created in Spanish and culturally appropriate terms and recommendations will
be provided. In conjunction with the brochure, we will be developing an informational video explaining teletherapy
to parents. Additionally, we will be developing lesson plans for 3 different communication-based activities that
parents can use to promote expressive language for children on the autism spectrum from Spanish-speaking
families. The brochure and lesson plans will be shared during the presentation. Parents of children with a diagnosis
of autism, whose primary language is Spanish or bilingual Spanish-English families will benefit from this resource.
16This will also benefit speech-language pathologists and teachers who are working through teletherapy with
Spanish speaking children and families.
Rapid Detection of Mycoplasmas via E-DNA Biosensor
Chamblee, Christopher – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Bonham, Andrew
Major/Research Area: Biochemistry (BCHM)
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient
Oral Session 2 (10:45-11:45am), Room 1
Mycoplasma bacteria are nanoscopic (and utilize their large communities to defend against a large variety of possible predators. Behavioral data was compared with and without human presence and across locations (urban vs rural). Only 2 colonies were approached
The Making of an EP: an Experiment in Home Recording
DeLuccie, Zane – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Macy, Elizabeth
Major/Research Area: Music (MUS)/Sound and Vision
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient
Oral Session 1 (9:30-10:30am), Room 3
Since the early 1900s, record labels have had a monopoly on both the quality and quantity of popular music. In the
age of the internet, we see the recording industry shifting to a “do it yourself” model, enabled by advances in
home recording technology. Artists like Chance the Rapper, Macklemore and Billie Eilish prove that making an
album on one’s own is not only an accessible way to create music, but also an acceptable way. This begs the
question, what does a label do that can’t be done independently in the internet age?
As an artist who has seen the industry from both inside and outside of a record deal, I realize there is only one
thing to truly gain from a record deal: opportunity. In developing this creative project, a short album (or EP), I
hope to circumvent the need for a label by writing, recording, producing, mixing and mastering my own set of
tracks with a proper plan for marketing and release. In doing so, I plan to develop methods to bypass the
algorithms of streaming services as a way to reach a larger audience. In making this project, I’ve compiled the best
musicians I’ve met in Denver as part of the music community, and enlisted their help to create the strongest set of
songs I can as a way to showcase our talents as I work to push these songs to new listeners.
The Body Is: Exploring Embodiments of Pain, Play, and Place(making)
Floarea, Rowen – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Santos, Stephanie
Major/Research Area: Individualized Degree Plan (IDP)/Gender, Women, & Sexualities Studies
(GWS)
Oral Session 2 (10:45-11:45am), Room 3
The body is political. This project pursues two questions. 1) What are the stories we tell about the body? 2) What
stories does the body tell? I conducted autoethnographic research in conjunction with a unique research method:
skateboarding. Skateboarding offers unique insight into knowledge of and from the body. I aimed to investigate
the body, my body, through experiences of pain, play, and place(making). Skateboarding sits at the nexus of these
three concepts and offers generative critiques of these experiences and their political materialities. As part of my
transgender journey, examining my body through skateboarding in this way offered opportunities to find healing.
Healing within myself, my relationships to others, and to the world at-large. This project is in process. The more
research and connections that I make, the more ideas and questions I have. In short, it is functioning just as I
intended. As a creative element of this project I will be compiling my research “artifacts” into an online
visualization. My aim with this is to create an assemblage of embodied knowledge/stories that folks can explore,
make their own connections, and add their own artifacts. The function of this piece of the project aims to make a
space for bodies to engage in some degree of conversation. And that we might feel less alone.
19Life in the Fasc(ist) Lane
Corresponding Author: Gager, Robin
Faculty Mentor: Dhoot, Sonny
Major/Research Area: Gender, Women, & Sexualities Studies (GWS)
Oral Session 2 (10:45-11:45am), Room 3
Since 2016 there has been a growing interest in so-called online hate groups. This was initially a direct result of the
2016 Presidential Election followed up by several incidents of violence at the hands of these hate groups. The
existence of these groups was largely attributed to the idea of echo chambers of information on social media
platforms. More recent research however has actually refuted that idea. Previous research has focused on
individual hate groups and platforms, instead of examining the phenomenon at large, which has led to limited
insights on the groups themselves and the ideas connecting them. Using discourse analysis to identify and examine
the common themes running between different online platforms known for their hateful rhetoric we were able to
determine what ideologies are being advocated for across several platforms. This allowed us to uncover the
specific underlying ideology of these online platforms, which allows us to better understand and combat the
problem. This underlying ideology is, essentially, fascism as outlined by Umberto Eco. This was uncovered by using
an intersectional framework based on the critical race theory presented by Kimberlé Crenshaw and Audre Lorde. In
light of this underlying ideology and the theoretical framework used we were able to demonstrate that so-called
online hate groups are actually extremely similar to more traditional hate groups. This research also has significant
implications for the future of preventing people from falling into these fascist groups. Since the groups can be
understood as both fascist and the natural result of systemic modes of oppression we can begin to create
techniques to fight against them. This is important because past attempts to fight against these groups and the
violence that comes from them have been largely unsuccessful.
Research Plan: Coping During COVID
Gibbs, Cassie – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Erickson, Cynthia
Major/Research Area: Psychology (PSY)
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient
Poster Session 1 (9:45-10:45am), Poster #5
This study will be the second round of a Coping During COVID study done by the MSU Psychology Research Club to
continue looking at the effects of COVID in later stages. The poster will cover our research plan and previous
research. The pandemic caused by the spread of COVID19 is an event unlike any that most people have
experienced in their lifetime. As a result, the mental health of people across the world will be challenged. Concerns
around heightened stress, anxiety, depression, and many other negative psychological constructs are growing
daily. Coping mechanisms, behaviors, and strengths are being called into question by even those who consider
themselves most adept. As psychologists, we believe it is imperative to gather information on people’s
psychological health, coping, and resiliency while in the midst of this crisis. It is also important to gather data that
could help us to react quickly with interventions and to measure longitudinally the effects of the crisis. For this
purpose, it is our intention to reach out to our community and gather data that can help us to answer questions
such as: What trends are we seeing among the general public regarding anxiety, depression, stress, psychological
flexibility, traumatic growth, contamination fear? How is this pandemic changing the way people cope? What types
of coping behaviors are most prominent among those who are displaying less anxiety? What types of coping
20behaviors are new and related to quarantine or other new contexts specific to this pandemic? What are the
generational impacts of the pandemic regarding trauma, anxiety and financial fear? Who is taking the most risk
and what factors are influencing risk taking behaviors? Are there social, psychological, or individual characteristics
that moderating the relationships of these variables? Our objective is to gather a wide breadth of data around
psychological constructs that can be used to answer these questions and more.
Prevention of Disease in the Immigrant Community Through Physical Wellness
Gomez-Corona, Marcos – Corresponding Author
Student Co-Author(s): Lauren Peraza, Maria Vidal Castro, Monica Vargas-Mejia
Faculty Mentor: Alejano Steele, AnnJanette
Major/Research Area: Exercise Science (EXS)
Additional Tags: Community-Based Project
Oral Session 3 (2:30-3:30pm), Room 2
The MSU Denver Health Scholars Research Project is focused on exploring health issues in the
immigrant/undocumented community through the use of scholarly research. Research from the ten Health
Institute Programs will help explore and point out health issues and disparities in the immigrant/undocumented
community that are not well known. Acknowledging these barriers is only the first step towards progress or
bringing awareness to the obstacle's immigrant communities face. This presentation will explore the issues in a
solution-oriented approach by outlining the key steps that can be taken towards minimizing inequalities and
creating more awareness in the overall community.
This team will be covering four topics related to the impact of physical health on the wellness and prevention of
disease in the undocumented/immigrant community. These topics will be covering stress and obesity, physical
activity and education, nutrition, and cervical cancer.
Raised by Music
Corresponding Author: Gussenbauer, Devyn
Faculty Mentor: Macy, Elizabeth
Major/Research Area: Music (MUS)
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient; Community-Based Project
Pre-recorded Oral Session 4 (3:45)
My mission is to support the business, community and future of Denver’s exuberant music culture during these
economic hardships of COVID-19. Through this event called Raised by Music, I will be connecting local venues,
musicians and a nonprofit The Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver to put on a professional quality video recorded
performance and it will be accessible to all people. The intended impact of this performance is to present the idea
of using music to raise money for local non profits to both unify music and community to highlight the importance
music has on our lives and how we need the publics help more than ever to keep music a part of our communities
and economy.
21I want to exercise forward thinking in our local music scene during COVID-19 and put this mission into action in the
future as a live performance event to demonstrate the importance of keeping our music culture alive, connected
and doors open no matter the difficulties in today’s pandemic.
TRIO Scholar Research Study
Guzman, Syntya – Corresponding Author
Co-Author: Valeria Castaneda Saucedo
Faculty Mentor: Koppel, Lauren
Additional Mentors: Eric Silva
Major/Research Area: Sociology (SOC)/Education (EDU)
Poster Session 1 (9:45-10:45am), Poster #2
This study is intended to further understand the meaning of success for TRIO scholars and to encourage students
to apply for grants and scholarships. It is also intended to help better serve students in ways they need. The
questions we are trying to answer through this study are: What does success mean to college students who
identify as first-generation, low-income, and/or with a disability? How does this definition of success impact their
college experience? How will this definition influence their choice of applying for grants and/or scholarships?
This study consists of potentially 200 TRIO participants at MSU Denver. Participants are asked what their personal
definition of success is and if they have applied for any grants or scholarships, through a questionnaire. A certain
number of selected participants will be divided into two focus groups, which will then be asked more in depth
questions about their definition of success and their experience with applying to grants and scholarships. Although
there is not definitive final findings at this moment, it is hopeful that the results will offer encouragement for
students to apply for grants and scholarships. As well as, knowledge on what student believe success is associated
with. Lastly, we hope this study will help the TRIO SSS, and Scholarship and Retention Center at MSU Denver find
different ways to support these scholars.
Social Support Before and During COVID-19 in College Students
Held, Sierra – Corresponding Author
Student Co-Author(s): Cassie Gibbs, Phillip DeDionisio, Elizabeth Malagisi, Izana Milstead,
Morgan Slaski, Luke Tisley
Faculty Mentor: Erickson, Cynthia
Major/Research Area: Psychology (PSY)
Poster Session 1 (9:30-10:45am), Poster #4
Due to social distancing and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, accessing social support may have become
more difficult. Previous research on loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and college students found a strong
link between social support and loneliness. Additionally, research found lower rates of perceived social support
with women than men. Introductory psychology students (N=379) completed a survey on Coping During COVID.
Social support was measured using the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3). The three-question scale was modified
to provide a before and during COVID response.
22There was a significant reduction for all participants F (1, 377) = 24.09, p < .001.
There was an interaction between gender and level of social support F (1,377) = 4.37, p= .04.
Women reported greater reductions in social support than men. This affect can be contributed to women’s higher
perception of social support before COVID.
There was no main effect of gender. F(1, 377) = 1.77, p = .18.
If social support is reduced, we expected an increase in perceived stress. We examined overall perceived stress
before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of a larger study, data was collected before COVID-19 from
September to December of 2019 (N=88) and after the onset of COVID-19 from April to December of 2020 (N=333).
Both sets of participants were asked to complete an online survey with questions about overall perceived
stress. Overall stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). A t-test was performed to
compare pre-COVID and COVID responses (t(419)=-1.28, p= .20). No significant difference in perceived stress was
found. A t-test was also run to compare our baseline sample to normative data (t(316)=3.52 , p < .001).
Perceived stress was significantly higher in our sample compared to normative data. Our sample did not show an
increase in stress, possibly because college students have already hit a baseline of stress. College students are
facing a number of stressors including developing new relationships, leaving home, taking on student debt, holding
down jobs, and changing social roles.
Implications for these findings include the importance of providing more access to social support for college
students when individuals cannot always meet face to face. Finding ways to connect students with other students
during more socially distanced times may be important in negating loneliness. Additionally, providing virtual
women-based support groups could be valuable in opposing women’s perception of greater loss in perceived
social support.
The Musician’s Personality: Do Personality Traits Vary According to Ensemble
Membership?
Corresponding Author: Heydel, Zahava
Faculty Mentor: Smith, Randyl
Major/Research Area: Psychology (PSY)
Additional Tags: Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant Recipient
Poster Session 1 (9:30-10:45am), Poster #3
This study aims to determine if there are predicting or differing personality traits of classical and jazz musicians
utilizing a big five personality inventory. 221 musicians completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and a short
demographic survey. A logistical regression and ANOVA were conducted to determine predicting personality traits
and differences between jazz and classical musicians. There were no significant differences between personality
and music ensemble membership. However, low conscientiousness and high agreeableness scores are predicting
personality factors for being a jazz musician. High conscientiousness and high neuroticism scores are significant
predictors of being a classical musician. This data has filled the literature gap concerning whether musicians’
personalities differ based on their music ensemble membership. These results will aid music directors in
cooperation, instruction, and communication with their ensemble.
23Childhood Adverse Experiences (ACEs) Impact on Metabolic Disorders in Adults:
A Literature Review
Heydel, Zahava – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Smith, Randyl
Additional Mentors: Noy Phimphasone-Brady
Major/Research Area: Psychology (PSY)
Additional Tags: Earn and Learn
Poster Session 3 (2:15-3:15pm), Poster #5
Every year, approximately 700,000 children experience abuse in the United States (National Children’s Alliance,
2019). In the literature, traumatic and stressful childhood experiences are referred to as adverse childhood
experiences (ACEs). ACEs can be thought of as an umbrella term to encompass childhood experiences of physical
abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and physical neglect, and household dysfunction (substance
abuse, mental illness, and criminal behavior of someone in the household; domestic violence; divorce or
separation of parents). Research in recent years has focused on how trauma experienced in childhood impacts
adult physical health, including metabolic disorders. This literature review discusses how biologically, socially, and
psychologically ACEs are related to the development of an adult diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes,
and polycystic ovary syndrome. Future research directions are also highlighted.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Learning Styles in College Students
Hobbs, Sara – Corresponding Author
Student Co-Author(s): Morgan Slaski
Faculty Mentor: Erickson, Cynthia
Major/Research Area: Psychology (PSY)
Additional Tags: Reseach project as teaching assitants
Oral Session 3 (2:30-3:30pm), Room 2
Beliefs about learning styles are deeply ingrained in our culture and education system. Many people, from pop-
psychology writers to educators and learners, often insist that they learn better when taught in their preferred
learning style, claiming to be a “visual” or “verbal” learner. However, research on learning styles has questioned
the accuracy of these beliefs and whether students truly learn best when taught in their preferred learning style.
The goal of our research is to assess the effectiveness of teaching materials targeted at students’ preferred
learning style on learning and retention. Do visual learners learn better when taught in a visual format and verbal
learners in a verbal format? To answer this question, we created an online survey that explored how well
participants learned when presented with these two different learning-style tailored instructional methods. Each
participant was randomly assigned a learning block containing two verbal, text-based lessons and two visual,
graphics-based lessons from four possible blocks. Each block contained either a visual or verbal version of all four
topics. These diverse subjects include classical conditioning, conservation, photosynthesis, and toilet function.
Participants answered questions about their perceived learning style preferences. and also solved 25 visual
reasoning puzzles. The puzzles created a buffer between the study lessons and assessment questions, as well as
provided a measure of reasoning ability. Finally, participants answered questions to assess their retention of the
material presented in the study lessons. This study design allows us to compare retention of material when the
participants’ preferred learning style matched the study material vs when there was a mismatch between
preferred learning style and study material.
24This research has multiple implications for educators and learners alike. Understanding how students respond to
teaching materials tailored to different learning styles will help assess the effectiveness of learning-style based
teaching. This can help educators to better direct their efforts and serve students more effectively while avoiding
unnecessary time spent on ineffective, unproven teaching methods. Educators may already be expending
enormous effort on learning styles-based teaching, despite a lack of empirical evidence for this approach.
Common Sense Water-Conservation
Ingersoll, Branden – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Foust, Christina
Major/Research Area: Communications Studies (CAS)
Oral Session 2 (10:45-11:45am), Room 3
The world is running out of water. Fast. By 2050, it is estimated that more than 4.5 billion people (nearly half the
Earth’s population), including many in the United States, will be facing extreme water scarcity. You may not know
it, but the U.S. relies on a myriad of 204 fresh water basins for everything from agriculture, to industry and
personal use. Of those 204 basins, 96 are expecting significant shortages by 2050, and 83 (the source of more than
40 states current water supplies), are expected to have extreme shortages as early as 2021. A startling scenario to
consider, especially when assessed in conjunction with the reality that Big Agriculture in the U.S. alone is
responsible for an astounding 80-90% (or 34 trillion gallons) of all annual groundwater consumption. A staggering
amount that currently is expected to increase by up to an additional 60% by 2030. Given that rhetoric has a storied
history of serving as an impetus to social change through its ability to motivate audience members to take action in
order to alleviate a given exigency, digital advocacy portfolios (DAPs) are integral components of the quest for
institutional change. As such, in response to encroaching global social instability induced by the decimation of
freshwater supplies, this digital advocacy portfolio examines resource intensive agricultural practices while
highlighting potential avenues of improvement that could be taken to conserve remaining resources. Specifically,
this DAP outlines a blueprint for potential legislative changes that could be made to existing agricultural subsidy
programs so as to fund nationwide a transition from conventional industrial agricultural systems to large-scale,
vertical hydroponic cultivation centers; advanced facilities that satisfy quotas yet only require fractions of the
resources needed by conventional practices.
The Efficacy of Store-Bought Epoxies on Petrographic Thin Sections
Jensen, Eric – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Kackstaetter, Uwe
Major/Research Area: Applied Geology
Oral Session 3 (2:30-3:30pm), Room 1
The usage of epoxies in petrographic thin sectioning is a necessity and there are many petrographic epoxies, but
most are expensive for the volume provided. An alternative that is cheaper but just as effective would save money
and time for the companies and private parties that use this process. Thin sections would have to be made for
each of the 20 epoxies that were gathered. Each of the samples of Dacite on the slides being 30 microns in
thickness. One being Hillquist, a professional epoxy, and the rest being epoxies that were purchased from
25Amazon.com and could be easily purchased at hardware stores, grocery stores, and craft stores. Hillquist is being
used due to ease of acquisition as it is the epoxy used at Metropolitan State University of Denver. There are other
petrographic epoxies such as Pertropoxy 154 and EMS petrographic epoxy, but all have similar optical properties
ranging from a refractive index of 1.533 to 1.540 ± .001. If the store-bought epoxies are close in refractive index, an
alternative could be proposed. Another need is the epoxy’s innate strength. This could be tested using the normal
process of thin section creation as it is strenuous to an epoxy. The last need is a cost table that relates the cost of
product by volume and its physical and optical properties.
Morphological Segmentation of Carbon Nanotube Imaging Data
Johnson, Thomas – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Avery, Azure
Additional Mentors: Shahar Boneh
Major/Research Area: Physics (PHY)
Additional Tags: Advanced Physics Lab I
Oral Session 3 (2:30-3:30pm), Room 1
Atomic force microscopy and TRMC (time-resolved microwave conductivity) have been used to measure
the physical topology and conductivity of single-walled carbon nanotube bundle networks. To better
understand how physical features within these networks affect conductivity, establishing correlation
between TRMC measurements and the physical structure of these samples is required. However, doing so
is a time-consuming and error-prone process when performed manually. An automated method to identify
intersections, segments, feature area, and other characteristics of both nanotube and arbitrary fibrous
networks is described and shown to be a viable technique in analysis of high-level features within sparse
synthetic and real AFM height-map data.
Autistic College Students: The Need for Peer Understanding
Lee, Nadine – Corresponding Author
Faculty Mentor: Santhanam, Siva priya
Major/Research Area: Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences (SLHS)
Additional Tags: Community-Based Project
Poster Session 2 (11:00am-12:00pm), Poster #2
Students on the autism spectrum are increasingly pursuing higher education. Despite demonstrating academic
strengths, many students face challenges in two main areas: (1) social isolation, and (2) stigma associated with an
autism diagnosis. Autistic students are often rated as awkward, less attractive, and less likeable by non-autistic
peers. Additionally, non-autistic students tend to confuse autism with other learning disabilities demonstrating
limited characteristics specific to individuals on the autism spectrum. Increased autism knowledge improves social
outcomes for college students on the autism spectrum and reduces misunderstanding and miscommunication
between autistic and non-autistic peers. The need for increased autism knowledge is crucial for students in
healthcare majors as they will be facing autistic clients in their future clinical practice. In this poster presentation,
we compare how autism is viewed through the medical and social models of disability, and discuss the implications
for students in healthcare majors. We will also describe autistic stigma and it can impact the social, academic, and
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